It was after the market a week ago that I noticed some of my works were beginning to be missing from my stock. I hadn't noticed until the raid upon the lumber-camp some few days ago. A group of brigands encamped in the Chetwood came upon us like a pack of mongrels. I grabbed my axe and charged out the door, dazed in the midst of it while I struggled to realize what was happening. A man in leather had come upon me, I jabbed my elbow into his gut and hit him with the blunt point of my axe. It was just then I knew what was happening, so, I sprung into action attempting to run off, or kill if need be, those that were attacking us. Mason was dealing with two ruffians on his own, one he had dealt with for he was lying face first in the mud. The other one had him exhausted and on the brink of retreat, or death. I yelled at him with all my lungs could muster, and tackled him to the ground, punching him right and left until he was unconscious. Shouts of approval came from Mason and the other foresters as we were able to route the raiders back into the forest. Few men were injured, the ones that were had only small cuts. Nevertheless, we checked for any signs of injury, then counted what we had lost, that being some coin, carvings of mine, some ring that Old Bauman had when he was in his youth was taken from the house, and most importantly, my most prized carving that I've ever yet to sell: a life-sized carving of a fox that was meant to be covered in bronze, then sold to a rich Dwarf Merchant. The damn bastards! I'd have them killed for what they did. I helped get everything all repaired and set off for my home in Towerfold, I needed to think upon my next decision. I wanted my fox back, and revenge for what they did to my friends and fellow craftsmen. It was after a one hour nap that I knew what had to be done. The Black Steel had the Thirsty Boar in Hamglen. It was there that I had quickly gone to the inn and spoke with Fiontann about buying his aid and his company's. He and his company's services were quickly bought, and the terms established. Ten gold per day. After that transaction, we went back to the inn and told Carmillia. She was displeased to be left in the dark until we had told her the next day unless Fiontann had told her in the night. I went back to my home and slept, using this time to think and plan our next move.
It had been a while since I dawned the armor I wore when I served in Eomer's Eored. I had to polish it and clean it and so on, but it worked. We assembled at the inn, the three of us: Fiontann, me, and Carmillia. We departed and went to the lumber-camp. No animals were out that night, unless you consider the croaks and noises of the neeker-beekers to be natural. We arrived at the lumber-camp and quickly searched for clues. I left Felabald in the hands of Old Bauman, a friend that I made while I worked in the camp. Fiontann found tracks leading towards the forest, we followed, slowly but surely leading us to a camp filled with bandits. From what I could see, there was only two. One was sleeping in the tent, his hairy feet extended outside of his sleeping quarters, and the other was tending the fire. Carmilia, being the thief, and only -sneaky- person that we had at the moment went over and killed the man that was attending the fire, and slit his throat, then tied up and gagged the man that was sleeping. I took pity upon the gagged man, for even as a thief and a brigand that he was, he was simply trying to sleep. He was awfully angry. We got what we needed from him, information, then left.
We came to back to Bree after we got the information. We had arrived at the marketplace, and stopped, adding to my impatience. A scene of some sort happened here. We asked around and a man, youthful, shocked, and confused told us that some men stole some yellow paint, and a Dwarf ran after them. We quickly followed the scene of course, as I had suggested that this very Dwarf could be Thorbeck, a friend of our's. We find the Dwarf with, and a stranger that Carmillia knew. We followed the trail of paint further and came across a wall being painted yellow, children with their hands covered with the stuff! Children without parents, or someone responsible to watch them always results in trouble and mischief. Keen, was the ring-leader of these mischievous children, and also a friend of Carmilia's. She was able to speak to him peacefully, of course Thorbeck helped making him scared, and we were pointed in the direction of Nora Hayley, the person who appeared to have the paint. Alongside the paint was a poorly crafted wooden fox carving, or what remained of it. An ear of the fox's was missing, and the poor thing was covered in paint. It was shoddy craftsmanship at best! Carmillia's friend had found a note which read that the deal was going to be happening near the Girsley island in the Brandywine river near the borders of the Shire. We quickly rode out. The wilderness was barren for some moments, until we had spotted two boars mating, and some birds singing happily upon the right side of the road. A good sign, perhaps. It was the smell of pies and sweet pastries that had filled my mind, that something so good and warm come be near when we're on a hunt for something stolen. We were now near Buckland.
Fiontann had gave the bounder, that was stationed at the gate, a promise about smoking pipe-weed, and in turn the Hobbit watched over our steeds. I doubt he was very happy after discovering how persistent Felabald is, but I'm sure he didn't mind it. The hill was vast, I admit, but I am still certain that Felabald could make it. We ascended up the hill and started to look around, I managed to get upon some rocks that were able to give me a higher vantage point. I saw nothing, only some deer running in the fields northward. We went forward down to the slopes and saw nothing upon the island. Oft had I been looking forward to this, to find them and either slay them and take the fox, or talk it out of them. It was there upon the Brandybuck river. A man, and a woman who I had just met in the Prancing Pony some late hour last night. I don't feel the need to rethink what his words said, his tongue was honey coated, and much like my Brother, he got away with lieing like the damn bastard that he is! We quickly went west in pursuit of my fox, now knowing that a Hobbit had bought it. We encountered the Hobbit, and much to our surprise, that they didn't have my fox after all. We were about halfway at the Bridge when I had said that they lied. We saw no cart tracks, the hobbit didn't say anything. The lass started crying, the hobbit male started to angry, and the guard just look confused. We assumed that they were truthful and we went back to Stock where we rested. The next day we searched and searched, and we managed to find it. There when we returned to Bree I paid the Black Steel in full, and went to my home with the fox. Finally, my fox came back to me. Finally.
